Plan A Trip To Nauvoo Illinois: An Awesome and Compete Travel Guide

Do you want to plan a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois? Awesome, I love Nauvoo and have been many times! I am excited to tell you all about the fun things to do in Nauvoo and help you plan your trip!

Nauvoo is historic site special to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. It is located off the beaten path along the Mississippi River.

This Nauvoo guide will help you plan everything you need to know before visiting Nauvoo, including the best time to go, where to stay, and what to expect.

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Nauvoo is a popular destination for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and those interested in pioneer American history.

Top Reasons People Visit Nauvoo Include:

Living History sites and restored 19th-century buildings
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple and surrounding grounds
Mississippi River views and walking paths
Family-friendly tours, performances, and educational experiences

Navuoo takes you back in time. You can learn how pioneers from the 1800’s lived, worked, and spent their free time.

It is very family friendly and offers fun activities for the whole family.

Getting to Nauvoo Illinois

The nearest major airports are Chicago (ORD and MDW) or Saint Louis (STL).

Chicago airports – Chicago O’Hare (ORD) or Chicago Midway (MDW) is 4+ hours away by car from Nauvoo.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) – Another major hub with wide flight options, roughly 3 hours away by car.

These options are great if you’re planning to explore the Midwest or combine Nauvoo with other destinations. But both are pretty far from Nauvoo.

We flew into Chicago. We stayed a few days in Chicago near the magnificent mile, went to the Harry Potter Store, saw a cubs game, and then took a road trip to Nauvoo.

Because Nauvoo is a small town, it’s important to plan your transportation carefully before your trip.

If you fly into either Chicago or St. Louis renting a car is the best option to get to Nauvoo.

Driving to Nauvoo

Most visitors drive to Nauvoo from nearby states. If you are coming from Utah or Idaho we loved planning a road trip through South Dakota. It adds a little time but it is so fun to see the Badlands , Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore! It is a long drive from the West!

The Nauvoo historic district itself is very walkable once you arrive, but you’ll almost always need a car for airport transfers, groceries, and visiting other church history sites like Carthage Jail, Far West, and Adam-Ondi-Ahman .

Hotels in Nauvoo Illinois

Lodging options in Nauvoo are limited, so booking early is highly recommended.

Popular Accommodations Include:

We rented a VRBO above the emporium. If you have a bigger family this is the best option.

There are a few hotels in Nauvoo and camping is a great option if you are driving and can bring your own gear. (Although Nauvoo in the summer is hot!)

What to Pack for a Trip to Nauvoo

Packing appropriately will help you stay comfortable during your visit. It is very humid and hot in the summer. However, Summer is the best time to visit because the performing missionaries are there.

Tips for Nauvoo Illnois

Here are a few tips that will help you plan your trip to Nauvoo!

Book Early

The number one thing that you should know is that you need to book accommodations early, especially during summer. This is a small town and accommodations book up fast!

Look at a Schedule

Check attraction schedules before arriving. There are shows and presentations all day long. Make sure plan enough time to be able to see everything you want.

Plan Meals

Plan meals and groceries ahead of time. We ate at the local businesses but if you want something different bring groceries with you.

Plan Enough Time

I would say you can do Nauvoo in 2-3 days. We stayed an entire week because my son was doing EFY and it was a bit long. My other kids were done at about 3 days.

Things to Do in Nauvoo Illinois

Now to the fun part, all the fun things you can do with your family at Nauvoo.

I would start at the Family Living Center where you can make rope, play pioneer games, and make candles and other really cool stuff.

You will want to visit houses and then make sure to see all the shows but first the Family Living Center especially if you have kids.

Let’s dive in so you can see what interest you most.

1. Shows and Pagents

Young adults can audition and serve a musical singing and dancing mission in Nauvoo. They are the performance missionaries and are very talented.

There are multiple shows every day at the amphitheater. There is also a presentation most nights at the Mississippi River along the pioneer trail. This shows how the saints had to leave and head to Utah.

During the day the performance missionaries will sing at some of the historic sites.

There will be a schedule of when and where these events will be held.

2. Tour Historic Homes

There are over 50 historic sites to tour. Each home has missionaries ready to teach you about the family that lived there.

It is really fun to learn about how the pioneers lived. Some of the sites like the blacksmith shop and the print shop have hands on activities for you to do. Some give you little souvenirs to take home as well.

One thing I loved is that the church has purchased all of the Smith properties. It is really cool to get to experience these sites. If you have been to Nauvoo before this is a newer experience.

Also, Carthage Jail is a short drive from Nauvoo. It is a great place to go and learn about the prophet. We did this first, but I think it is better to tour the Smith houses and then go to Carthage. This will give you information in order.

Historic Nauvoo Locations

Brigham and Mary Ann Young Home
Browning Gun Shop
Calvin and Sally Pendleton Home and Schoolhouse
Carriage Depot
Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail Visitors’ Center
Cultural Hall
David and Patty Sessions Home
Edward and Ann Hunter Home
Family Living Center
FamilySearch Center
Heber and Vilate Kimball Home
Hiram and Sarah Granger Kimball Home
Historic Nauvoo North Visitors’ Center
Historic Nauvoo South Visitors’ Center
Kimball Barn
Lucy Mack Smith Home
Lyon Drug Store
Mansion House
Monument to Women
Nauvoo House
Nauvoo Stake Center
Nauvoo Illinois Temple
Orson and Marinda Hyde Home
Outdoor Stage
Oxen Experience
Pageant Stage Area
Parley Fire Pit
Partridge Street Wood
Partridge Street Wood Picnic Area
Pastimes Pavilion
Pioneer Memorial and Exodus to Greatness
Pioneer Memorial Picnic Area
Pioneer Pastimes Picnic Area
Pioneer Saints Cemetery
Red Brick Store
George and Christiana Riser Home and Boot Shop
Scovil Bakery
Seventies Hall
Smith Family Cemetery
Smith Family Homestead
Stoddard Tin Shop
Taylor Home, Print Shop, and Post Office
Temple Arrival Center
Temple Stones Pavilion
Trail of Hope
Visitors’ Center Picnic Area
Wagon Depot
Webb Blacksmith Shop
West Grove
Wilford and Phebe Woodruff Home
William and Caroline Weeks Home
William and Esther Gheen Home

Kids love the Blacksmith Shop, Gun Shop, Printing Press, and the Bakery. The Family Living Center is probably the best place for kids at Nauvoo. There are lots of hands on activities.

3. North and South Visitor Center's

The visitor centers are a great place to start. There is a little museum and information center.

This is a great area to talk with missionaries and get a map and a lay of the land. You can look at the performance schedule and plan out your day.

4. Family Living Center

The Family Living Center is so fun! My 9 year old was all about it.

Fun Things at the Family Living Center

Rope making – help twist fibers into real rope
Cooperage (barrel making) – learn how wooden barrels were built
Candlemaking – see how candles were dipped and formed
Weaving & textiles – watch cloth being woven on a loom
Pottery – shaping and working with clay
Woodworking – hand tools and early carpentry techniques
Tin working – shaping tin household items
Leatherworking – basic leather crafts and tools

The Family Living Center offers hands-on pioneer experiences that bring everyday life in Nauvoo to life for families.

5. Restaurants in Nauvoo Illinois

After a long day you will probably be hungry. Nauvoo has a few restaurants that are worth a try,

My kids love Swig, there is a cute food truck called Nauvoo Soda Company that serves these types of drinks. We went every day!

We also tried most of the following restaurants and liked them!

Resturants in Nauvoo

The Red Front
Lock 19
Hotel Nauvoo Historic Inn & Restaurant
Fireside BBQ
Annie’s Custard & Café
Nauvoo Fudge Factory
Nauvoo Soda Company
Smoke N Stars Food Trailer

Nauvoo State Park

Nauvoo State Park is a quiet, scenic park with peaceful lakes, walking paths, and picnic areas that offers a relaxing natural break just minutes from Historic Nauvoo.

Camping is available at Nauvoo State Park, with designated campsites that offer a quiet, scenic place for tent and RV campers to stay overnight near Historic Nauvoo.

If you can’t find accommodations renting an RV might be a great option. Be sure to reserve a RV spot at the park. There are full hook ups available for RV’s.

Ready to Visit Nauvoo Illinois?!

I hope this helps you plan a trip to Nauvoo. It is pretty easy to explore at your own pace once you get there so I don’t think you need a detailed itinerary.

Just relax enjoy learning all about the early saints of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I know you will have a great time. If you have more questions, just ask in the Facebook Group!

Facebook Community

If you have any questions join my Facebook Travel Community. You can ask any questions you have about upcoming trips and everyone is happy to help you plan your trip. I also try to give exclusive travel deals that companies send me. It is a great group to join!